Annual survey of the homeless shows fabric of community

Jan. 23, 2014

Loading Photo Galleries ...

Written by

Sarah Kittell helps take Walter Roberts through a Point-in-Time Count survey Tuesday at the Fort Collins Rescue Mission. The survey is meant to provide a snapshot of who experiences homelessness throughout the year. / Erin Hull/The Coloradoan

Learn more

Learn more about Homeward 2020’s efforts to make homelessness rare, short-lived and nonrecurring at www.homeward2020.org.

Gallery Click on this story at www.coloradoan.com to see a gallery on the Point-in-Time Count.

More

ADVERTISEMENT

Everybody has a story. That is the basic tenet on which I’ve set my career.

This week, a group of more than 80 volunteers and I set out to listen to and record just a few of those stories. They were snapshots, really, but snapshots that will provide a greater scope and understanding of homelessness in Fort Collins and shape the way homeless care is provided locally.

The Point-in-Time Count is an annual survey of the homeless population to get a better idea of the factors contributing to homelessness, the demographics of our local population and barriers to gaining permanent housing. Homeward 2020 is the convening agency responsible for the count. Results will be used locally and nationally to identify initiatives for the homeless and better understand homelessness, and final tallies are expected at the end of January.

This was my second year participating in the event as a volunteer. Last year, I brought along a group of volunteers who had never interacted with the homeless before and shared their thoughts. This year, I want to share some of my thoughts and just a couple of the stories I’ve been authorized to tell you about from my counting experience.

For the purposes of developing sources and conducting interviews in addition to the survey, I hung out at Fort Collins Rescue Mission, 316 Jefferson St., outside Catholic Charities, 460 Linden Center Dr. and at the Sister Mary Alice Murphy Center for Hope, 242 Conifer St.

A lot of folks were willing to take the survey (incentivized by a $5 Safeway gift card); I talked to a handful during my three shifts — all men in varying stages of homelessness with dreams and goals. Eric Roman, 37, and his service dog Bruno were my first candidates. I don’t want to give away too much of Roman’s story here because he’ll be featured in an upcoming Sunday profile, but from him I learned the struggle of being homeless with not just a pet, but an animal you depend upon to survive and function.

Michael Smith, 31, was pretty new to Fort Collins. He went to Front Range Community College but lived in Pueblo for several years where he spent 4½ months in jail for a DUI. Smith has also spent time in Cheyenne. He’s been in Fort Collins about a week and is hoping to find a new chance and work his way off the streets as soon as possible.

(Page 2 of 2)

He knows he’s made mistakes in life, but he’s committed to getting on his feet. Until then, he’s been staying mostly in shelters.

“Hopefully, I can get work here and begin resuming a somewhat normal life,” Smith told me. “As far as jobs, it seems they take a big step back when they find out you’re homeless. If you let them know you’re homeless, you don’t hear from them again.”

Then there was Frank Howard, 30. Howard’s also pretty new to Fort Collins. He came from Key West, Fla. after being kicked off the 40-foot sailboat he was living on. He’s had three jobs through Employment Solutions since moving here a month ago. He started the third this week and was optimistic about his new start.

For the most part, he stays in his car. He’s lived a few places in the country and said he’s “always homeless in the beginning,” but does his best to save up enough to find a home and get on his feet quickly.

He plays the violin every day — something just for him.

“(My goal) is just to be happy,” he told me. “Not even a success. Just happy.”

I wish I had room for all the stories I heard. No doubt you’ll read them in coming weeks and months, as I’ve made plans to follow up with these gracious men and share their stories as I can. The final revelation I want to leave you with is nothing new. If you know me or have met with me, you’ve probably heard me say it before. But I’m going to say it again anyway.

Everybody has a story. You may not know much about homelessness, or poverty, or crime, or pasts you wish you could erase. I’m not asking you to validate the choices made by any of the people I write about, but please take time to listen to their stories and gain a greater understanding of the different parts of Fort Collins’ makeup.

You just might learn something. I know I have.

Sarah Jane Kyle is the Coloradoan reporter covering volunteerism, nonprofits and philanthropy. Follow her on Twitter @sarahjanekyle or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/reportersarahjane.